Potomac Falls High School is in position to make a run at the AA Dulles District boys basketball title as it enters the final stretch of the regular season. An impressive feat considering the Panthers graduated 10 players from their 2010-2011 state championship team.

Potomac Falls returned only one regular contributor - 6-foot-7 Greg Graves - from last year’s squad that produced a 30-1 record on their way to winning a second consecutive Virginia Division 4 state championship.

The revamped Panthers (11-4, 8-2) have won eight of 10 district games this winter - their only losses were on consecutive nights in December to Woodgrove and Loudoun Valley at home. Potomac Falls split two games with Broad Run, now in the AAA Cedar Run District, and lost by 10 to Osbourn, one of the top ranked AAA teams in the state.

The Panthers avenged their earlier loss to the Wolverines with a key 56-52 win at Woodgrove Jan. 21. Graves scored a game-high 23 points, while Potomac Falls limited Woodgrove senior Brad Gilson - the Dulles District’s top scorer - to 13 points.

“That was the best effort defensively we gave all year,” Panthers coach Jeff Hawes said. “To beat a good team on the road was a really good win for us.”

Potomac Falls sits one-game behind Dulles leader Loudoun Valley (10-1) and Briar Woods (7-1) in the loss column. Woodgrove is in fourth place at 6-4.

“We are happy to be in the race,” Hawes said. “We are really excited to see what we can do.”

Graves, who will play next season at Division I Mount St. Mary’s College, has averaged 25 points and 15 rebounds in his last nine games since moving back into the post. Graves played on the wing early in the campaign.

Senior Matt Galloway, a 6-foot-2 forward, has stepped up into a starting role and is averaging a drop under 15 points per contest. Freshman Wayna Allen, a 6-foot-3 forward, has a lot of upside and is acclimating to the varsity game, scoring in double figures the last four contests. 

The Panthers are also benefiting from the return of senior Todd Shanosky, who missed eight games earlier this winter with a broken foot.

The Woodgrove game was the first in a key stretch of three games in eight days for the Panthers. Potomac Falls will host Briar Woods Jan. 25 and visit Loudoun Valley Jan. 28.

“We looked at this stretch as our season could turn either way,” Hawes said. “To get the first win was big. I like the amount of time off between games. It comes down to good practices. We had good practices leading up to the Woodgrove game. I told the kids to enjoy that one over the weekend and now it’s time to wipe the smiles off and get ready for Briar Woods.”

The Potomac Falls Panthers celebrate their 56-52 win over Woodgrove Jan. 21. The Panthers improved to 8-2 in AA Dulles District play.—Times-Mirror Photo/Rick Wasser

-Here is a look at the remaining schedules for the top four teams in the Dulles District with district records listed in parenthesis. 

Potomac Falls Panthers (8-2)
Jan. 25 vs. Briar Woods
Jan. 28 at Loudoun Valley
Jan. 31 vs. Heritage
Feb. 4 vs. Osbourn*
Feb. 6 at Briar Woods
Feb. 7 vs. Tuscarora
Feb. 10 at Park View

Loudoun Valley Vikings (10-1)
Jan. 25 at Woodgrove
Jan. 28 vs. Potomac Falls
Jan. 31 at Briar Woods
Feb. 3 vs. Heritage
Feb. 10 vs. Tuscarora

Briar Woods Falcons (7-1)
Jan. 25 at Potomac Falls
Jan. 26 at Woodgrove
Jan. 28 at Park View
Jan. 31 vs. Loudoun Valley
Feb. 1 at Broad Run*
Feb. 3 at Loudoun County
Feb. 6 vs. Potomac Falls
Feb. 7 at Heritage
Feb. 10 vs. Dominion

Woodgrove Wolverines (6-4)
Jan. 25 vs. Loudoun Valley
Jan. 26 vs. Briar Woods
Jan. 30 at Heritage
Feb. 2 at Tuscarora
Feb. 7 vs. Park View
Feb. 10 at Loudoun County

*non-district